They travel virtually for you

A train runs on a bridge in Myanmar, taking Qi Dong on another signature tour.

Creative content

However, there are voices of caution.

"You need to have seen much of the world at first because being an influencer is not just about taking photos and writing articles," says 37-year-old Qi Dong from Shanghai.

"It takes time for you to become famous enough to financially support yourself from the earnings.

"The most important thing is to have your own ideas and personality," he says. "As many are entering the industry, only those who make creative content will survive."

He's been striving to promote train-travel culture, and he's writing a book about his one-month train trip throughout Russia. He's taken many photos and filmed documentaries about train travel.

When Qi was aged 4, he often took trains with his parents from Shandong province to Shanghai to see his grandparents. Trains represent thrilling journeys as well as homesickness for him.